Key Messages
Reconnecting With The Wild: How To Live A Primal Lifestyle In An Urban Jungle
Do you ever feel a craving for wild spaces, something that modern society has almost entirely taken away from us? Sure, you can visit the local park or climb onto structures to get a view of your city.
But those sublime feelings of being one with nature still remain out of reach.
It doesn’t have to stay this way.
Even in urban settings, there are ways to get in touch with the wild side of ourselves.
Go Wild by John Francis teaches us how it’s done.
It delves into subjects such as primitive tribes being less degenerate than modern humans, human beings naturally having a tribal side and that an all plant-based diet might not be as good an idea as it first seemed.
By incorporating these teachings into our everyday lives, we can move closer towards fulfilling that inner calling for reconnecting with the wilderness and tap into our true nature: a dynamic creature capable of anything!
The Wild Life: Why We Should Re-Connect With Nature To Enjoy Better Health And Happiness
Humans were not made to sit behind a desk all day, nor were they meant to spend most of their time indoors.
Despite what some experts suggess, we have evolved in the wild and have adapted over time with our primal instincts.
Things like hunting and gathering for food, living in tight-knit communities, and spending more time outdoors are all things that our bodies need to be healthy and remain connected with nature.
This is evidenced by the example of the San people of Southern Africa who continue to actively live a wild life while staying physically and mentally healthy.
The sedentary lifestyle of modern society has become one of the leading contributors to serious illnesses including obesity, heart failure, autism and even cancer.
It is important for us to recognize that these illnesses are often connected with being inactive or not engaging with the environment around us in a meaningful way like our ancestors did – because this is how we as humans evolved.
Why Humans Are The Most Empathetic Species: The Role Of Family And Physicality
It’s no secret that humans are far more empathetic creatures than many other species.
That is what sets us apart as a species and has allowed us to survive and thrive in the wild.
It all starts with empathy, which helps us put ourselves in the shoes of our prey, and understand how it might react.
This ability allows us to catch our food more effectively, ensuring that we and our families stay fed.
But there’s more to being an effective hunter than just empathy; we must also be agile and strong enough to physically chase down our prey.
We have evolved bodies that allow us to do just that; capable of a plethora of movements such as walking, running, crouching, bending, jumping and all manner of building tools.
This combination agility and strength is what makes living in the wild possible for us.
We also have keen intelligence that allows us to make the most out of our energy when hunting or gathering food.
Without it, we may not have been able to obtain enough sustenance for ourselves or our tribes — but thankfully, it has allowed us to become one of the only species successful at living off the land.
The human mind and body were designed for success in the wild — both with empathy and physicality — so it is no wonder why modern day humans feel unfulfilled without utilizing these same skills every once in a while.
Recreate The Ideal Conditions For Sleep And Get A Brain And Body Boost From Running
Exercise can lead to significant increases in intelligence, and wild conditions can help improve sleep.
This is according to a Swedish study that compared the physical fitness and brainpower of both fraternal and identical twins, which noticed that cardio fitness had an effect on their IQ scores more profound than any genetic factor.
It has been found that running through forests or mountainous paths not only invigorates your body with deep satisfaction but also helps build new neural connections.
It creates an exciting interaction as you traverse natural obstacles, stimulating the brain too far away from the monotony of a treadmill!
Additionally, due to stark contrasts between technology-ridden societies and natural habitats humans evolved in, sleeping patterns have also suffered – compromising its quality by inducing restlessness due to energy consumption caused by electronics.
That’s why going back to basics is beneficial: emulating elements like pet guardianship and campfires can inspire wildness necessary for deeper slumber.
Steer clear of devices at least one hour before bedtime for best results.
How Refined Carbohydrates And Sugars In Processed Foods Have Had Dire Effects On Human Health
Go Wild, a book written by John R.
Huddle and Pieter Langerak, examines the effects of modern agriculture and processed foods on our current afflictions.
Our ancestors were hunters and gatherers that had no problems with health diseases like type 2 diabetes or asthma.
When sophisticated civilizations form, which allowed for the introduction of agriculture, diets began to change significantly, leading to new health ailments.
Modern agricultural practices lack many of the valuable nutrients previously obtained from meat and other natural sources such as omega-3 fatty acids.
We now tend to get most of our calories from refined carbs and sugars found in processed foods, fast-foods, soft drinks, and even baby food.
These souces are not naturally part of our diet but can lead to obesity, inflammation and depression when consumed in excess as they make it harder for us to use fat for energy.
To remain healthier we need more variety in what we eat.
That means getting back to natural foods including fruits, vegetables and fish where possible as well as cutting down on processed ones high in sugar such as pizzas and chips.
GoWild is an important book whose message needs to be heard if we’re going to tackle today’s most pressing afflictions!
Meditation And Connecting With Nature Can Help Us Become Healthier, Happier People
It’s been proven time and time again that a combination of meditation and exposure to nature can have incredible benefits on your overall health and happiness.
Neuroscientists studying Tibetan monks discovered that their brains are more open to changes, making them far more in touch with nature and empathetic towards other people and animals.
This means that even relatively short daily meditation sessions can stimulate positive brain activity, and help you lead a healthier life.
Furthermore, it’s been found that simply being exposed to natural environments in the form of green spaces or some kind of potted plant at work can reduce sick days by up to 40%.
So if you’re looking for an easy way to become happier and healthier – then adding some mediation and plant life into your daily routine is a great place to start!
The Dark Side Of Tribal Instinct: How Evolution Shapes Our Behaviour Today
Being social is a part of our human nature, and it’s embedded in our DNA.
We have a hormone called oxytocin which can drive us to be increasingly social, and the more receptive our body is towards the chemical, the more likely we are to build relationships with others.
However, there is also a dark side to our tribal nature: Our desire to defend our community from outsiders can often lead to discrimination; We may be quick to judge those perceived as different or a threat to our family unit.
It’s also been reported that domestic violence may stem from society’s innate urge for protection- men might perceive their partners’ attempts at leaving as an attack against their home.
Evolution has shaped who we are today in complex ways- sometimes illogical and contradictory ones- but that doesn’t mean they don’t offer worthwhile insights into how we can live better lives even now in the modern world.
Wrap Up
The final summary of Go Wild is this: returning to the wilder side of life isn’t hard and can make a real difference to our physical and mental health.
Activity such as running on a mountain trail or forest allows us to tap into our instinctual fight-or-flight response, releasing endorphins which makes us feel happier and healthier.
And by allowing ourselves to pay attention to the environment around us, our bodies and brains learn to adapt better in any conditions.
In short, if you want to live a happier and healthier life, don’t underestimate the power of nature!
